Among the first commercially available, and still in production today, drum chippers employ a mechanisms consisting of a large steel drum powered by a motor, usually by means of a belt. The drum is mounted parallel to the hopper and spins towards the output chute. The drum also serves as the feed mechanism, drawing the material through as it chips it. It is colloquially known as a "chuck-and-duck" chipper, due to the immediate speed attained by material dropped into the drum.

Chippers of this type have many drawbacks and safety issues. If an operator becomes snagged on material being fed into the machine, injury or death is very likely. Chippers of this type are also very loud. The chips produced may be very large, and if thin material is inserted, it may be cut into slivers rather than chips, and since the drum is directly driven by the engine, materials that are too large or long may stall the engine while usually remaining firmly stuck in the drum.

Newer models have overcome many of these disadvantages with digitally-controlled reversible hydraulic feed wheels and muffling systems. The reversible feed system allows the newer style drum chippers to handle larger diameter materials. Modern drum-style chippers usually have a material capacity of 6 to 20 inches (15-50 cm).